Expandable Intervertebral Cage for Disc Height Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal surgical techniques face challenges in effectively addressing back pain caused by spinal disorders, such as disc degeneration and spondylolisthesis, due to limitations in restoring disc space height and creating lordosis through minimally invasive approaches, which often result in instability and nerve injury.
Innovation Solution
An intervertebral device with expandable trapezoidal-shaped sidewalls and a support brace that can be deployed in situ to increase disc space height and create lordosis, providing a larger footprint for endplate support and stability, while allowing for tissue growth and integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed height interbody spacer is used through a limited posterior approach, then the surgical access is minimized, but the ability to restore disc space height and create lordosis is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The interbody spacer incorporates expandable walls with hinge elements that allow the device to transition from a compressed delivery state to an expanded functional state. This dynamic structure enables the spacer to achieve the desired disc space height and lordosis restoration after implantation, overcoming the limitation of fixed-height spacers while maintaining minimally invasive access.
2Strength
If the footprint of the interbody spacer is increased to reduce subsidence, then load bearing capability is improved, but the difficulty of insertion through a limited posterior approach increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable interbody spacer is designed with a nested structure where the walls can be collapsed into a compact configuration for insertion through the limited posterior approach. Once positioned, the walls are expanded to achieve the full footprint required for optimal load bearing capability and subsidence prevention. This nesting principle allows the device to pass through small openings while deploying to a larger functional size.
3Manufacturing precision
If extensive perineural dissection and bone preparation is performed, then the interbody device can be properly positioned, but spinal stability is reduced and nerve injury risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable interbody spacer is pre-formed with the correct geometry, surface characteristics, and structural features required for proper positioning and stabilization. The device is delivered in a compressed state through a minimally invasive approach, requiring minimal bone preparation and perineural dissection. Upon expansion, the pre-configured features engage with the vertebral bodies to achieve secure positioning without extensive surgical disruption, thereby preserving spinal stability and reducing nerve injury risk.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively addresses the limitations of existing techniques by providing a minimally invasive method to restore disc space height and create lordosis, enhancing spinal stability and facilitating bone fusion, thereby alleviating pain and improving mobility.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the trapezoidal-shaped sidewalls includes an internal hinge element that is rotatable from a first configuration to at least a second configuration such that the device is expandable in first dimension
Implementation Method 2
The opposing sidewalls include an articulation mechanism having a plurality of hinges. The first configuration includes the plurality of hinges articulated to minimize the interior volume of the intervertebral device
Implementation Method 3
The device can be additionally expandable in a second dimension. The first dimension can include a caudal-cephalad dimension and the second dimension can include a medial-lateral dimension
Implementation Method 4
An intervertebral device with expandable trapezoidal-shaped sidewalls and a support brace that can be deployed in situ to increase disc space height and create lordosis
Implementation Method 5
providing a larger footprint for endplate support and stability, while allowing for tissue growth and integration
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are devices (100), systems and methods of use relating to articulating interbody cages. In one aspect, disclosed is an intervertebral device (100) for use in a human spine including an anterior end (104); a posterior end (102); and at least four peripheral walls (22,24,26). The peripheral walls (26) define an interior volume surrounding a midline of the device and include a superior wall (22), an inferior wall (24) and a pair of opposing, generally trapezoidal-shaped sidewalls. Each of the trapezoidal-shaped sidewalls (26) includes an internal hinge element (60) that is rotatable from a first configuration to at least a second configuration such that the device is expandable in first dimension. Each of the internal hinge elements includes an axis that is coplanar with the midline of the device.